European Union, PAHO/WHO donate to COVID-19 fight

Published by BBN Staff at October 26, 2020

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Posted: Monday, October 26, 2020. 6:36 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: A collaboration of the European Union (EU) and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has donated seven (7) SD Biosensors F200 Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) Analyzers and 400 RDT Standard antigen test kits. This is intended to expand efforts to test and diagnose persons with COVID-19 and decrease the time for laboratory results with PCR tests.

The donation and other interventions are funded by reoriented funds from the “Health Sector Support Programme Belize” project, enhancing the Ministry of Health’s capacity to conduct decentralized COVID-19 testing, improving infection prevention and control, and supporting the delivery of health services at the community level.

PAHO Director Dr. Carissa F. Etienne recently described the efficiency expected from the new technology, “By providing results quickly, the new test empowers frontline health workers to better manage cases by isolating patients to prevent further spread…”

Until recently, the diagnosis of COVID-19 has only been possible in areas that have molecular testing, such as the Central Medical Lab in Belize City. However, with the SD Biosensor antigen rapid tests, testing could be available in all the districts.

As expressed by Mr. Juvencio Chan, Senior Medical Technologist and Clinical Laboratory Supervisor at the Central Medical Laboratory, “SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test will assist in screening at-risk populations for timely laboratory diagnosis to ensure rapid patient management response from our health care system.”

To improve working conditions and ensure the safety of laboratory personnel, 20 fire extinguishers, 19 smoke detectors, two sets of an emergency shower with eyewash have also been procured for the CML, as per recommendations from previous site assessments.

Both the EU, PAHO/WHO, and MoH recognize the need to respond to the demands created by COVID-19 while, at the same time, maintaining access to healthcare, especially for persons suffering from non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The collaborative effort is supporting an initiative that empowers Belize’s team of 230 Community Health Workers (CHW) to provide basic health services such as blood pressure and glucose monitoring. The CHW network constitutes an alternative strategy for the continued delivery of health services during the pandemic. The program, which involves training and equipping Community Health Workers to conduct outreach in their villages is today receiving a donation of 230 CHW work kits containing non-contact thermometers, stethoscopes, glucometers with strips and lancets, and first aid kits.

In addition, 100 pulse oximeters have been procured under this project and will be donated to the Ministry of Health for case management and patient follow-up.

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